President Jeon Hae-sang of Toray Advanced Materials Korea (TAK). (Photos: TAK)

Toray Advanced Materials Korea (TAK) has entered the prepreg business to raise synergetic effects with its existing carbon fiber composite materials business.

TAK, the nation’s biggest carbon fiber manufacture, said on Oct. 5 it acquired SK Chemical’s prepreg business in Ulsan and Qingtao, China.

Prepreg is a composite material made from "pre-impregnated" fibers and a partially cured polymer matrix, such as epoxy or phenolic resin, or even thermoplastic mixed with liquid rubbers or resins.

It has diverse applications in leisure-sport, automobile and aerospace fields since the composite material has properties such as high strength, high elasticity, corrosion resistance and wear resistance.

TAK’s acquisition of the prepreg business is designed to expand its supply chain to the mid-stream sector, a move to raise its global competitiveness in the eco-friendly lightening materials sector by expanding its supply chain network in Korea and abroad.

With the supply of high-performance, high-quality carbon fibers and excellently fabricated prepreg, TAK aims to raise the development of products in industrial areas such as hydrogen car, EVs and UAM.

TAK plans to produce carbon fiber and prepreg products in Gumi and Ulsan to supply them in Korea and export them abroad.

The company plans to produce prepreg products from Qingtao and supply them to the Chinese market.

A view of TAK’s carbon fiber, raw textile, prepreg, chopped fiber and laminate products, produced by TAK.

TAK mass produces an eco-friendly, dyeable aramid knit fabric.

TAK Announces Winners of 4th TAK Science and Technology Awards

Toray Advanced Materials Korea Science Promotion Foundation announced winners of the 4th TAK Science and Technology Awards, it said on Oct. 7.

They are: Prof. Cho Min-haeng of Korea University Chemical Department in the basic science field and Prof. Park Soo-young of Seoul National University Material Engineering Department. Each of the winners is presented with 100 million won in prize money.

Prof. Cho has been globally recognized for his work in the ultra-fast spectroscopy, multi-dimensional vibrational spectroscopy and molecular imaging fields, in particular for his theory and experimental study on interaction between light and materials.

He has been highly evaluated for his excellent achievements in molecular science.

Prof. Park has been credited with having established basic theories on electrical conductivity, photophysics and photochemistry in the organic electronics and optical material sectors.

He has been recognized for his achievements such as the development of innovative optical electronics materials through synthesis with molecular design.

The foundation selected five younger scientists who have a high potential, challenging creative study tasks. Each winner is awarded with 50 million won for a combined 150 million in research funds.

The basic category of the research funds went to Prof. Lee Yoon-mi of Yonsei University Chemical Department and Prof. Park Jin-hee of DGIST New Materials Science.

Prof. Byun Hae-ryung of KAIST Chemical Department and Prof. Chung Dae-sung of POSTECH Chemical Departments were honored in the application category.

The tasks involve a variety of fields such as organic catalyst, lithium-ion and organic logic inverter. A awards ceremony will take place on Oct. 21.

Toray Advanced Materials Korea Science Promotion also offers scholarships to 30 engineering department students as part of efforts to develop the science field and nurture next-generation science manpower.

Hyundai Motor NEXO, made with carbon fibers produced by TAK, is displayed at TAK’s exhibition booth installed at Gumi City’s main stadium, the venue of the 102nd National Athletic Games.